Improvement in window-screens



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFroE. a

DANIEL O. KELLAM, OF PONTIAC, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF HIS RIGHT TO ROBERT HAYES AND ALBERT HAYES, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

IMPROVEMENT IN WINDOW-SCREENS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 150,863, dated May 12, 1874; application filed February 21, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL O. KELLAM, of Pontiac, in the county of Oakland and State of Michigan, have invented a new and Improved Adjustable Window-Screen Frame, and I do hereby declare the following to be a full and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of my invention; and Fig. 2, a section through line a: .r, Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference in the accompanying drawings denote the same parts.

This invention has for its object to provide an adjustable screen to be placed in a windowframe when the sash is opened, whichshall automatically accommodate itself to the width of the window, and at the same time constitute an unbroken barrier to the entrance of insects. To this end the invention consists in a screen-frame constructed in two portions, each being adapted to slide longitudinally on the other. The parts are connected by rubber or other springs, whose tendency is to increase the length of the frame, and they are prevented from lateral separation by sockets on each part, said sockets inclosing projections from the other, all of which I will now proceed to describe.

In the drawings, A represents the screenframe, composed of two rectangular sections,

a a, to which the gauze is applied, the latter being omitted in the drawingl The parts a a are alike in construction, one being placed beside the other, so that when in use the two constitute a screen, extending entirely across the window-frame. B B represent springs, preferably composed of stout rubber, connecting the sections a a in such manner as to tend to elongate the frame A, by drawing the sections a a outward in opposite directions. The top and bottom pieces of the sections a a project at their inner ends, as shown in Fig. 1, these projections O entering sockets Dattached to the sides of the top and bottom pieces at their outer ends, the sockets of each section being adapted to receive the projections of the other. The sockets l) are composed of sheet metal,

or other suitable material, and are so located as not to project above or below the sections.

It will be seen that when the frame thus constructed is placed in a window-casing, the springs B elongate it by drawing the sections a a outward until their outer ends come in contact with the casing. The screen is thus adapted to window-casings of various sizes, and is firmly held therein by the outward pressure of the springs. The sections a a are prevented from lateral separation by the sockets D, which engage the projections C, but do not interfere with their longitudinal motion, the whole constituting a cheap and simple device, which can be made by any ordinary mechanic, the materials being easily obtained. The springs may consist of hear y rubber bands, such as are supplied by stationers, while the sockets can be easily and cheaply made from sheet metal. The edges of the sockets are flush with the top and bottom of the frame, as above stated consequently,when the screen is in place there are no crevices be tween its edges and the sash-casing.

The construction of my window-screen being selfsupporting and expanding by means of concealed springs, as set forth, without forming a crevice between the sliding frames, so that they will abut against and adapt themselves to window-casings of difi'erent widths, permits the screen also to be applied, not only above and under a window-sash, but also at the sides of the same, upon the stop of window as well as in the groove, when it is desired to obtain a draft less than the height of the screen. The draft can thus be readily regulated by applying the screen to the outer or inner side of the sash, and either side of my screen can be applied either to the inner or outer side of the sash without leaving any crevice between the screen and the side of the sash, which is not the case with the windowscreens as ordinarily employed. The advantages attained by my arrangement of two concealed springs on the sides of the frame, in contradistinction to the use of a single central rubber spring connecting the inner ends of the screen-frames, are as follows: The screen in my construction not only presents a better to allow for contraction and expansion, which thus forms a crevice between the screens,

- renderin g the construction objectionable.

I am aware that a Window-screen made in two parts, adapted toslide longitudinally oneach other, and covered with gauze or netting, and connected together by a spring, the tension of which operates to extend the two parts or frames composing the window-screen, to adapt the latter to windows of different widths, has heretofore beenemployed; and I therefore lay noclaim to such invention, as in the abovedescribed construction metallic plates are attached to the upper and lower facesof the top and bottom cross-bars of one of the frames of the screen, and bent over at their inner edges to form sockets or receptacles for the other frame or part of the screen to slide in, which construction prevents the top and bottom cross-bars of the two frames from being flush with each other, by the thickness of the metallic plates thus used, thereby leaving crevices or openings between the frame of the screen to which the metallic plates are not applied, and the window-sash or other parts above and below it, through which dust, mosquitoes, or other insects, may readily pass. My construction enables me entirely to obviate this defect, by so arranging the sockets 011 the front faces of the frames of the screen in connection with the projections on the inner ends of the frames, that the upper and lower surfaces of the crossbars of the two frames are always in the same horizontal plane, or flush with each other, so that no openings are left between the top and bottom cross-bars of the screen, and the sash or parts immediately above and below it.

I claim as my invention- The frames to a, provided with extensions 0 O on their ends, to which are attached concealed springs B B, in combination with the sockets D D, situated on the side faces of the frames a a, and flush with the upper and lower surfaces of the cross-bars of the frames, substantially as described, and for the purposes set forth.

DAXIEL O. KELLAM.

\Vitnesses S. N. KELLAM, L. F. BOSTWICK. 

